Connecting to TFS in Gemini

Connecting to TFS can be a little tricky in Gemini for a number of reasons. There are a few extra steps which are required in order to connect and get the app working. The purpose of this post is not to say how to USE the TFS picker, but rather to focus on additional tips to get it connected in the first place.

If you want to see details on the app, the source docs are your best bet: https://docs.countersoft.com/using-microsoft-tfs/

IIS Changes

TFS requires 32 bit application support within IIS and by default these are not allowed. So, to enable this, you will need to edit the Application Pool settings for your site. If you are OnDemand, Countersoft’s SaS offering, you will need to email support@countersoft.com and request this is changed. However, try it first as it is not always needed.

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This screen was found from COMPUTER MANAGEMENT | Services and Applications | Internet Information Services

Then clicking on Application Pools, right click on Advanced Settings.

TFS Changes

As per the docs, though a commonly skipped step, you need to enable TFS Alternative Authentication. The docs link here but it is not the most helpful as it is more for developers.

Log into TFS via the web so you’re at the dashboard. Click your user circle in the top right:

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Click on Security

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And then click on Alternate authentication credentials

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Enter a new password and optional new username and click Save

Web Configuration Changes

The final step to consider is whether you are using the online version of TFS or your own hosted version. If it is running on your LAN then there is nothing left to do, however, if you are using TFS online, you will need to add a setting to the web.config file to ensure this works correctly

<add key="gemini.tfs.basicauth" value="true"/>

Add the above snippet in the application settings section of the web.config file and the app will use basic authentication as required for the Online TFS.

If you are OnDemand, you will also need to request this change as it is not (currently) enabled by default.


Login

Once the app has been installed, and you have enabled the TFS app in your Screens setup for the template, you will see this screen:

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Enter the details, your username, your alternative credential password and your server url (don’t include any project specific url segments, just the root)


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If all goes well, you will see the above. If not, keep reading.



Trouble shooting

Wrong username and/or password

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No alternative credentials setup:

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Wrong URL

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